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Matt Stroup

Baseball Daily Dose

Broxton, Padilla or Kuo?

Looks like we have a bit of confusion with regard to the Dodgers' closing situation. On Tuesday, L.A. GM Ned Colletti suggested on the radio that Jonathan Broxton – after blowing his first save on Monday – would be sharing save chances with Vicente Padilla and Hong-Chih Kuo (once healthy).

This naturally prompted a run to the waiver wire to add Padilla and Kuo in fantasy leagues, but things became slightly more complicated when Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times subsequently reported that Broxton was told by Don Mattingly that he's still the team's closer.

So what to do in fantasy leagues? If you added Padilla or Kuo, keeping them on your roster would be a wise move for the moment while we see how this plays out. Because even if Broxton is still the team's closer in Mattingly's eyes, his 1.84 WHIP and 8/7 K/BB ratio in 10 1/3 innings suggest that Broxton ceding some save opportunities to Padilla or Kuo could become inevitable sooner rather than later.

Jose Contreras has been diagnosed with a Grade 1 strain of his right flexor pronator and is expected to miss 3-4 weeks, with Ryan Madson slated to close in his absence. There's nothing wrong with stashing Contreras on a DL spot in fantasy leagues, but there's also nothing wrong with cutting him loose if you need the roster space.

Albert Pujols (hamstring) drew a walk as a pinch-hitter and stayed in the game to play first base on Tuesday night, making it likely that he'll be ready to return to the lineup on Wednesday. After homering one time in his first 12 games, Pujols has six homers in his last 11 games.

Mets pitching coach Dan Warthen said that Johan Santana (shoulder) is making "firm" throws from 120 feet on flat ground. The Mets haven't announced a new timetable for Santana, but indicated during spring training that he could be back in late June or early July.

T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com reports that Josh Hamilton (humerus) is "still more than a month away from returning," which sounds scary but basically puts Hamilton on track to return when expected. Look for the Rangers outfielder to return to action sometime in early June.

Evan Longoria (oblique) is set to begin a minor league rehab assignment on Thursday in hopes of being back with the Rays as early as next Tuesday.

Phil Hughes underwent four hours of tests on his fatigued throwing arm on Tuesday. As of this writing the results were not known, but the Yankees were hoping to have a diagnosis by Wednesday morning. Stay tuned.

NL Quick Hits (pitchers): New St. Louis closer Mitchell Boggs blew his first save of the season … Johnny Cueto (triceps) threw 4 2/3 scoreless innings at Triple-A, but may need at least one more rehab start before being activated … Andrew Cashner (shoulder) and Randy Wells (forearm) both threw off flat ground Tuesday, but there's no timetable for their return … Barry Zito (foot) will be examined by a specialist on Wednesday … Takashi Saito (hamstring) will begin a minor league rehab assignment Thursday … Jair Jurrjens picked up his first career complete game in a win over the Padres, out-dueling Aaron Harang, who was hit hard for the first time all season (eight runs in six innings) … Daniel Hudson was far from flawless (10 hits and three runs in six innings against Philadelphia), but did pick up his first win of 2011 … Jorge De La Rosa moved to 4-0 with seven strong innings against the Cubs … Roy Oswalt labored through three innings against Arizona … John Axford converted his fifth save and has now allowed just one hit with five strikeouts in his last three appearances … Chris Young gave up three runs in 4 2/3 innings in his return from the DL.

NL Quick Hits (position players):Ryan Zimmerman (abdominal) played catch and did some running on Tuesday, but is expected to need a rehab assignment before he can return … Corey Hart was activated from the DL a day early and appeared as a pinch-hitter ... Ryan Roberts hit his fifth homer … Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos hit his first two homers of 2011, upping his average to .378 in 45 at-bats … Hanley Ramirez went 2-for-4 after ESPN's Buster Olney reported that he's working to correct a hitch in his swing … Todd Helton recorded his first two-homer game since 2007… Chase Utley (knee) ran, hit and took grounders on Monday, but remains a few weeks from beginning a rehab stint … Juan Uribe (thigh) appeared as a pinch-hitter … Ian Desmond is away from the Nats for a few days while on paternity leave … Ryan Theriot was a late scratch due to ribcage soreness … Dominic Brown (hand) will begin his rehab assignment at Single-A on Wednesday and appears to be on course for a mid-May return … Nyjer Morgan (thigh) will begin minor league rehab on Friday in hopes of being activated next Tuesday … Casey McGehee sat out with a sprained thumb … Carlos Gonzalez got the day off against left-hander James Russell in the midst of an 0-for-21 slump … The Padres activated Kyle Blanks and optioned him to Double-A as he continues to recover from Tommy John surgery.

AL Quick Hits (pitchers):Sergio Santos picked up his second save in two days and obviously qualifies as a must-add in all formats … Joel Pineiro (shoulder) will throw a bullpen on Wednesday and is slated for a start on Saturday against the Rays … Brian Matusz (intercostal strain) threw 30-35 pitches in a bullpen session and is on course for a return in mid-May … Carlos Carrasco said that an MRI on his elbow came back "perfect," and he's scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Wednesday … Zach Britton moved to 4-1 with a 2.84 ERA and 1.17 WHIP by holding the Red Sox to one run in six innings … Matt Harrison got hit hard for the first time this season, surrendering seven earned runs in three innings … Brandon McCarthy has his first ugly start of the season, giving up 14 hits and seven earned runs in 5 1/3 innings … Gavin Floyd struck out 10 Yankees hitters in eight innings … Scott Downs (gastrointestinal) should be activated Friday.

AL Quick Hits (position players): Oft-injured Coco Crisp left early with quad tightness … Victor Martinez (groin) told MLB.com that he's "feeling great" and thinks he'll be ready when eligible next Wednesday … As expected, Joe Mauer (viral infection) isn't likely to come off the DL when eligible Thursday … Kurt Suzuki will miss Wednesday's game due to the birth of his daughter … Edwin Encarnacion (wrist) is hoping to return on Wednesday … Maicer Izturis (hamstring) missed another game Tuesday … Josh Willingham sat out due to back soreness, but it's not thought to be anything serious … Brett Gardner hit his second homer of the season after Jon Heyman of SI.com reported that the Yankees appear to have "deep" concerns about Gardner's .136 batting average … Twins GM Bill Smith said that Tsuyoshi Nishioka (leg) "is on schedule, if not ahead of schedule," putting his return somewhere around early- to mid-May … J.J. Hardy (oblique) swung a bat with no discomfort on Monday and could return in mid-May … Yankees catching prospect Jesus Montero (groin) underwent an MRI, which came back negative … Shin-Soo Choo broke out of a 5-for-29 slump with a homer and four RBI … Grady Sizemore hit his third homer to go along with two doubles … Carrying a 609 OPS into Tuesday, Adam Lind broke out with two homers and five RBI … Justin Smoak homered in his first game back from the bereavement list.

Looks like we have a bit of confusion with regard to the Dodgers' closing situation. On Tuesday, L.A. GM Ned Colletti suggested on the radio that Jonathan Broxton – after blowing his first save on Monday – would be sharing save chances with Vicente Padilla and Hong-Chih Kuo (once healthy).

This naturally prompted a run to the waiver wire to add Padilla and Kuo in fantasy leagues, but things became slightly more complicated when Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times subsequently reported that Broxton was told by Don Mattingly that he's still the team's closer.

So what to do in fantasy leagues? If you added Padilla or Kuo, keeping them on your roster would be a wise move for the moment while we see how this plays out. Because even if Broxton is still the team's closer in Mattingly's eyes, his 1.84 WHIP and 8/7 K/BB ratio in 10 1/3 innings suggest that Broxton ceding some save opportunities to Padilla or Kuo could become inevitable sooner rather than later.

Jose Contreras has been diagnosed with a Grade 1 strain of his right flexor pronator and is expected to miss 3-4 weeks, with Ryan Madson slated to close in his absence. There's nothing wrong with stashing Contreras on a DL spot in fantasy leagues, but there's also nothing wrong with cutting him loose if you need the roster space.

Albert Pujols (hamstring) drew a walk as a pinch-hitter and stayed in the game to play first base on Tuesday night, making it likely that he'll be ready to return to the lineup on Wednesday. After homering one time in his first 12 games, Pujols has six homers in his last 11 games.

Mets pitching coach Dan Warthen said that Johan Santana (shoulder) is making "firm" throws from 120 feet on flat ground. The Mets haven't announced a new timetable for Santana, but indicated during spring training that he could be back in late June or early July.

T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com reports that Josh Hamilton (humerus) is "still more than a month away from returning," which sounds scary but basically puts Hamilton on track to return when expected. Look for the Rangers outfielder to return to action sometime in early June.

Evan Longoria (oblique) is set to begin a minor league rehab assignment on Thursday in hopes of being back with the Rays as early as next Tuesday.

Phil Hughes underwent four hours of tests on his fatigued throwing arm on Tuesday. As of this writing the results were not known, but the Yankees were hoping to have a diagnosis by Wednesday morning. Stay tuned.

NL Quick Hits (pitchers): New St. Louis closer Mitchell Boggs blew his first save of the season … Johnny Cueto (triceps) threw 4 2/3 scoreless innings at Triple-A, but may need at least one more rehab start before being activated … Andrew Cashner (shoulder) and Randy Wells (forearm) both threw off flat ground Tuesday, but there's no timetable for their return … Barry Zito (foot) will be examined by a specialist on Wednesday … Takashi Saito (hamstring) will begin a minor league rehab assignment Thursday … Jair Jurrjens picked up his first career complete game in a win over the Padres, out-dueling Aaron Harang, who was hit hard for the first time all season (eight runs in six innings) … Daniel Hudson was far from flawless (10 hits and three runs in six innings against Philadelphia), but did pick up his first win of 2011 … Jorge De La Rosa moved to 4-0 with seven strong innings against the Cubs … Roy Oswalt labored through three innings against Arizona … John Axford converted his fifth save and has now allowed just one hit with five strikeouts in his last three appearances … Chris Young gave up three runs in 4 2/3 innings in his return from the DL.

NL Quick Hits (position players):Ryan Zimmerman (abdominal) played catch and did some running on Tuesday, but is expected to need a rehab assignment before he can return … Corey Hart was activated from the DL a day early and appeared as a pinch-hitter ... Ryan Roberts hit his fifth homer … Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos hit his first two homers of 2011, upping his average to .378 in 45 at-bats … Hanley Ramirez went 2-for-4 after ESPN's Buster Olney reported that he's working to correct a hitch in his swing … Todd Helton recorded his first two-homer game since 2007… Chase Utley (knee) ran, hit and took grounders on Monday, but remains a few weeks from beginning a rehab stint … Juan Uribe (thigh) appeared as a pinch-hitter … Ian Desmond is away from the Nats for a few days while on paternity leave … Ryan Theriot was a late scratch due to ribcage soreness … Dominic Brown (hand) will begin his rehab assignment at Single-A on Wednesday and appears to be on course for a mid-May return … Nyjer Morgan (thigh) will begin minor league rehab on Friday in hopes of being activated next Tuesday … Casey McGehee sat out with a sprained thumb … Carlos Gonzalez got the day off against left-hander James Russell in the midst of an 0-for-21 slump … The Padres activated Kyle Blanks and optioned him to Double-A as he continues to recover from Tommy John surgery.

AL Quick Hits (pitchers):Sergio Santos picked up his second save in two days and obviously qualifies as a must-add in all formats … Joel Pineiro (shoulder) will throw a bullpen on Wednesday and is slated for a start on Saturday against the Rays … Brian Matusz (intercostal strain) threw 30-35 pitches in a bullpen session and is on course for a return in mid-May … Carlos Carrasco said that an MRI on his elbow came back "perfect," and he's scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Wednesday … Zach Britton moved to 4-1 with a 2.84 ERA and 1.17 WHIP by holding the Red Sox to one run in six innings … Matt Harrison got hit hard for the first time this season, surrendering seven earned runs in three innings … Brandon McCarthy has his first ugly start of the season, giving up 14 hits and seven earned runs in 5 1/3 innings … Gavin Floyd struck out 10 Yankees hitters in eight innings … Scott Downs (gastrointestinal) should be activated Friday.

AL Quick Hits (position players): Oft-injured Coco Crisp left early with quad tightness … Victor Martinez (groin) told MLB.com that he's "feeling great" and thinks he'll be ready when eligible next Wednesday … As expected, Joe Mauer (viral infection) isn't likely to come off the DL when eligible Thursday … Kurt Suzuki will miss Wednesday's game due to the birth of his daughter … Edwin Encarnacion (wrist) is hoping to return on Wednesday … Maicer Izturis (hamstring) missed another game Tuesday … Josh Willingham sat out due to back soreness, but it's not thought to be anything serious … Brett Gardner hit his second homer of the season after Jon Heyman of SI.com reported that the Yankees appear to have "deep" concerns about Gardner's .136 batting average … Twins GM Bill Smith said that Tsuyoshi Nishioka (leg) "is on schedule, if not ahead of schedule," putting his return somewhere around early- to mid-May … J.J. Hardy (oblique) swung a bat with no discomfort on Monday and could return in mid-May … Yankees catching prospect Jesus Montero (groin) underwent an MRI, which came back negative … Shin-Soo Choo broke out of a 5-for-29 slump with a homer and four RBI … Grady Sizemore hit his third homer to go along with two doubles … Carrying a 609 OPS into Tuesday, Adam Lind broke out with two homers and five RBI … Justin Smoak homered in his first game back from the bereavement list.